As part of a Tennessee Valley Authority program designed to strengthen economic and community development efforts in Trigg, Christian and Todd counties, an Atlanta firm has made suggestions that could affect the region.

Del Boyette of Boyette Strategic Advisors presented his group’s suggestions to community leaders from the region last Wednesday at Lake Barkley State Resort Park. TVA contracted Boyette in 2006 as part of The Valley Targeted and Prepared Community Program (TaP).

“The local [Economic Development Commission[ is very excited about completing the TaP Program and the recommendations the consultants presented,” Cadiz-Trigg County EDC executive director Sharon Butts said. “We are moving toward a true regional entity which will allow our region to be more competitive.”

Butts said companies do not look at county lines, but focus on finding a large presence in workforce, skill level, location, access to good road transportation, close proximities to major markets and state incentives.

“As a region, we can present a strong presence in all those categories,” Butts said.

In his presentation, Boyette recommended the region, currently branded as “Almost Nashville, Kentucky,” maintain that brand and also institute a cooperative effort that could be called the Pennyrile Regional Economic Partnership.

Boyette said the region should focus on a three-year strategy attempting to attract organizations in alternative energy (biofuels and solar support manufacturing), customer contact centers, distribution and value-added agriculture products. He said those targets are the best ones for the region to pursue now, but others could be added in the future.

“Regions that work together will be the most successful,” Boyette said, suggesting that a consolidated effort could be modeled after the Cadiz-Trigg County Youth Leadership Program.

Trigg County Judge-Executive Stan Humphries, who was among community leaders present at the event, said hearing ideas from a third party could speed up efforts that will be organized by him, Christian County Judge-Executive Steve Tribble, Todd County Judge-Executive Arthur Green and others in each county.

“Regionalization is the way to go,” Humphries said. “Partnering with Christian and Todd counties will keep us poised to be a good fit for commerce in the future.”